Category: K-POP ARTISTS

Jungkook of BTS has made a significant splash on the Billboard Hot 100 with his new song “Seven,” featuring Latto, debuting at the top spot. This makes Jungkook the second BTS member to have a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100, following Jimin‘s “Like Crazy” in April. 

This also marks Latto‘s first No. 1. She previously peaked at No. 3 with “Big Energy” in April 2022. With this latest achievement, Jungkook has become the youngest male solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the chart since Justin Bieber.

“Seven” debuts at No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart and No. 4 on Streaming Songs. While below the all-format Radio Songs tally, it debuts at No. 30 on Adult Pop Airplay and No. 33 on Pop Airplay.

Jason Aldean vs. Jungkook

Meanwhile, Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” came in at No. 2 on the Hot 100. The song, released in May, had the biggest sales week for a country song in over a decade. Interestingly, “Try That in a Small Town” was not initially seen as a competitor for “Seven.” However, the song gained sudden attention due to the release of its controversial music video on the 14th.

The video, shot in a Tennessee courtroom, depicted scenes of protests and looting, and the song’s lyrics warned of repercussions for such behaviors in a small town. The music video, interpreted as discriminatory, and the lyrics implying gun use led to a boycott by CMT (Country Music Television), a cable broadcaster in the U.S. specializing in country music. 

The conservative white base, country music’s main fan base, was against this action. They expressed their opinion by buying and streaming “Try That In A Small Town,” pitting it against “Seven.” Their efforts led to it drawing 11.6 million streams (up 547%) and 7.3 million in radio airplay audience (up 17%) and selling 228,000 (up 27,625%) in the week of July 14-20. 

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“Seven” still beat it handily. It debuted with 21.9 million streams, 6.4 million in airplay audience, and 153,000 combined digital and CD singles sold from its release July 14 through July 20, according to Luminate. Jungkook’s accomplishment is seen by many as a victory against discrimination and racism, as a Korean artist’s single beat a white male’s track on the Billboard Hot 100—a song whose spike in popularity was fueled by hate.

By the numbers

“Seven” is the 1,151st No. 1 since the Hot 100 began in August 1958. It’s the 68th leader to debut atop the chart. Furthermore, it’s Jungkook‘s best-selling song in the U.S. by total units, surpassing “Dreamers” in just over a week.

Jungkook earned his first Hot 100 No. 1, or even Top 10, after charting two songs in 2022: Charlie Puth’s “Left and Right,” featuring Jungkook, hit No. 22 after Jungkook’s own “Stay Alive” spent one week on the list at No. 95.

With BTS having logged six Hot 100 No. 1s and Jungkook and Jimin with one No. 1 each, BTS joins The Beatles, The Black Eyed Peas, Destiny’s Child, and Genesis as the only groups with leaders and multiple members who earned No. 1s. All of Jungkook‘s No. 1s on the Hot 100 across his entire career include the hits “Dynamite,” “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat),” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” “My Universe,” and “Seven.” — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Jungkook released previously unseen photos from his “Seven” campaign photoshoot while in the UK. Source: Rolling Stone/Rolling Stone UK.

During a chaotic arrival at Incheon Airport, BTS‘s Jungkook made headlines with his unique outfit. Jungkook‘s distinctive style and dedication to his fans shone through despite the tumultuous scene.

On July 24, Jungkook returned from his overseas schedules, looking as handsome as ever. Those at the airport were thrilled to catch a glimpse of the superstar, but the reality behind the scenes was anything but calm. Chaos erupted when the barriers keeping fans back were lifted. Despite the best efforts of airport security, the crowd became difficult to control. Jungkook reportedly almost fell over outside the airport.

However, Jungkook‘s unique style caught people’s attention amidst the chaos. He was seen wearing a piece from Balenciaga’s women’s range, a pair of pants that looked like a skirt from the back. This bold fashion statement not only turned heads but also broke gender norms, showcasing Jungkook‘s fearless personality and individualistic style.

Fans and netizens quickly took to social media to express their admiration for Jungkook‘s sartorial choices. The discussion about Jungkook‘s outfit extended to social media, where fans shared their thoughts on his clothes. 

Chaos greeted Jungkook at Incheon Airport

ARMY’s excitement grew when MTV posted a photo of Jungkook wearing the same pants during his rehearsal in London. They praised him for breaking gender barriers and expressing himself through fashion. This incident highlighted BTS‘s progressive approach to styling, where they refuse to allow gender norms to dictate their style choices.

The chaos that greeted Jungkook at Incheon Airport was palpable. Fans and press people alike were eager to catch a glimpse of him. Despite the frenzy, he remained calm and collected as he greeted his fans.

ARMY expressed their worries for Jungkook‘s safety. They thanked airport security for protecting the BTS member but stressed the importance of maintaining a safe environment for idols and fans. — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: MTV UK was the first to post a photo of Jungkook wearing Balenciaga’s Women’s Black Apron Pants Skirt. Source: Twitter/MTV UK’s official Twitter account.

Jungkook, who was in the U.S. promoting his new solo single “Seven” was traveling with Jimin. They intended to enjoy some leisure time on a yacht trip in New York. However, their private outing took an unpleasant turn when the yacht’s captain said disrespectful, xenophobic things about them.

The captain recorded videos of Jimin and Jungkook, who were unaware they were being filmed. He later shared the videos on his Instagram story, infuriating ARMY. In one of the videos, the captain said, “The dude in charge, he was all, ‘You need to put your phones away.’ I said, ‘Listen, bro, they’re getting on my boat, not the other way around.’” 

The fans saw the captain’s words as a clear display of xenophobia. Consequently, they mass-emailed BigHit Music, BTS’s management company, informing them of the situation. They urged BigHit Music to sue the captain for invading the artists’ privacy and making xenophobic comments.

How ARMY fought for Jimin and Jungkook

This incident isn’t the first time Korean artists encountered racism and xenophobia while promoting outside their native land. As of this writing, BTS fans worldwide are awaiting a response from the yacht company and for HYBE Corporation, BigHit Music’s parent company, to take appropriate action regarding the invasion of privacy.

Featured Image: As always, Jimin and Jungkook were together on the “Yet to Come” MV Shoot set. Source: YouTube/BTS’s official YouTube channel.

An unexpected connection formed between BTS‘s Jimin and Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling, marking a unique crossover between K-pop and Hollywood. Some playful banter about their matching outfits and Jimin’s love for Gosling’s movie The Notebook sparked this connection.

Fans first noticed a striking similarity between Jimin‘s outfit in the “Permission to Dance” MV and Gosling‘s costume in the Barbie movie. Instead of ignoring their comments, Gosling addressed the issue head-on. He acknowledged the resemblance and praised Jimin for wearing the outfit first and best. In a video, Gosling said the “Ken code” dictates that if one Ken copies another’s style, he must offer his most prized possession. In this case, it was Ken’s black-and-white guitar from the Barbie movie.

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Jimin, a massive fan of Gosling and his movie The Notebook, was thrilled to receive the guitar. He responded to Gosling‘s video message with his an Instagram reel. In the reel, Jimin thanked Gosling for the guitar and expressed his excitement for the Barbie movie. He congratulated Gosling on the movie’s release and complimented his style.

This interaction delighted fans from the K-pop and Hollywood sectors. It bridged the gap between the two worlds and led to a wholesome exchange between the two stars. Fans are now waiting to see if this unexpected connection will lead to more collaborations or interactions in the future.

Is Jimin a Ryan Gosling fan?

Jimin has expressed admiration for Gosling‘s work, particularly the movie The Notebook. He once wrote on Weverse that he watched it multiple times when he got COVID-19. That doesn’t include all the times he watched it before then. But don’t ask Jimin how many times he has watched it since it was released. He probably lost count already!

This playful exchange between Jimin and Ryan Gosling highlights the potential for connections and friendships to form across different sectors of the global entertainment industry. — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Lucky Jimin is a successful Ryan Gosling stan. Source: Instagram/Jimin’s personal Instagram account.